PM forced to abandon tour of Portland

Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

HECTOR'S RIVER, Portland:Heavy rain cut short the tour of Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's planned tour of several communities in Portland that were battered by Hurricane Sandy.

Simpson Miller, who came by helicopter, landed at Hector's River where she visited residents whose houses were demolished by the Category One storm, and also to view the rebuilding of houses, which were donated by Food For The Poor.

"This is rather painful," commented the prime minister. "So many lives have been disrupted and many residents are displaced. It is the intention of Government to ensure that those affected by the hurricane are provided with the necessary assistance, so as to rebuild their lives and to have their homes restored.

"The process started on Thursday in Manchioneal with the disbursement of approximately 70 vouchers valued at $30,000 and $60,000, respectively."

The prime minister also issued a warning to persons who might be harbouring thoughts of using deceptive means to gain benefits from the distribution.

Simpson Miller also sought to assure displaced residents that the State would assist in moving them to safer ground.

relocate residents

"We are looking at the likelihood of relocating residents living in disaster areas. This will be done once lands belonging to the Government are identified," said the prime minister.

"I have also received word that persons are still occupying a disaster shelter at the Manchioneal Community Centre, and that they have been given until tomorrow (Saturday, November 17) to vacate that building, but I will be speaking with Ronald Jackson of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to look into the matter of providing them with an extension."

Nineteen persons currently occupy the disaster shelter at Manchioneal.

Three of the shelter occupants, Nadine Steward, Cheryl Hall, and Karen White Casey, were delighted at the prime minister's pledge to intervene.

"We are happy that the prime minister visited today," said Cheryl Hall. "We were worried, as they had given us until Saturday to leave, and we have nowhere to go. But now that the prime minister has intervened, we can sleep better now."

The prime minister, who braved the weather to visit San Shore in Man-chioneal, where at least 10 houses were destroyed and approximately 20 houses lost roofing, was forced to abandon the tour and was rushed back to the Jamaica Defence Force helicopter because of the heavy downpour.